Help me identify an older WW2 film

March 01, 2017, 12:01 PM

I'm racking my brain, trying to recall a film I saw several years ago. It may have been on TCM.

It was a WW2 film, about a German soldier, set at the very end of the war on the Western Front. Part of the movie involved a trip to a rear area (possibly his home) on a temporary leave pass. One scene in particular stands out, where he was stopped and investigated by a Feldgendarme (military policeman) to make sure he wasn't a deserter trying to sneak home. The latter part of the movie involved him trying to convince a group of stubborn German officers holed up in a fort to surrender to the Americans/British.

I believe the film was in black and white, and likely shot relatively recently after the end of the war (40s/50s/maybe early 60s). It featured a lot of authentic German military equipment and uniforms. Unfortunately, I don't fully recall whether it was in English or in German.

Ring a bell for anyone?

March 01, 2017, 04:02 PM

YellowJacket

quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I'm racking my brain, trying to recall a film I saw several years ago. It may have been on TCM.

It was a WW2 film, about a German soldier, set at the very end of the war on the Western Front. Part of the movie involved a trip to a rear area (possibly his home) on a temporary leave pass. One scene in particular stands out, where he was stopped and investigated by a Feldgendarme (military policeman) to make sure he wasn't a deserter trying to sneak home. The latter part of the movie involved him trying to convince a group of stubborn German officers holed up in a fort to surrender to the Americans/British.

I believe the film was in black and white, and likely shot relatively recently after the end of the war (40s/50s/maybe early 60s). It featured a lot of authentic German military equipment and uniforms. Unfortunately, I don't fully recall whether it was in English or in German.

Ring a bell for anyone?

sounds a bit like All Quiet on the Western Front, a WWI book/film. But the trying to talk officers into surrendering doesn't ring a bell.

March 01, 2017, 04:22 PM

Windhover

Sounds like it could be "A Time to Love and A Time to Die" (1958)

I saw it back in Korea with Korean subtitles. Starring John Gavin.

Edited to add: similarity to All Quiet on your he Western Front is not an accident. Both novels were writt n by Erich Maria Remarque

March 01, 2017, 05:51 PM

RogueJSK

quote:
Originally posted by YellowJacket:
sounds a bit like All Quiet on the Western Front, a WWI book/film. But the trying to talk officers into surrendering doesn't ring a bell.

That's not what I'm thinking of. This film was definitely WW2.

quote:
Originally posted by Windhover:
Sounds like it could be "A Time to Love and A Time to Die" (1958)

Hmm... Closer, but I don't think that's it either.

March 01, 2017, 05:54 PM

2BobTanner

quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I'm racking my brain, trying to recall a film I saw several years ago. It may have been on TCM.

It was a WW2 film, about a German soldier, set at the very end of the war on the Western Front. Part of the movie involved a trip to a rear area (possibly his home) on a temporary leave pass. One scene in particular stands out, where he was stopped and investigated by a Feldgendarme (military policeman) to make sure he wasn't a deserter trying to sneak home. The latter part of the movie involved him trying to convince a group of stubborn German officers holed up in a fort to surrender to the Americans/British.

I believe the film was in black and white, and likely shot relatively recently after the end of the war (40s/50s/maybe early 60s). It featured a lot of authentic German military equipment and uniforms. Unfortunately, I don't fully recall whether it was in English or in German.

Ring a bell for anyone?

It sounds like you may be thinking of "Decision Before Dawn", made in post-war West Germany in 1951. Good film. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Before_Dawn

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March 01, 2017, 05:57 PM

RogueJSK

quote:
Originally posted by 2BobTanner:
It sounds like you may be thinking of "Decision Before Dawn", made in post-war West Germany in 1951. Good film. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_Before_Dawn

Boom. That's it. Thank you! That was driving me crazy.

My memory was hazy on why he was traveling behind the lines. He wasn't going home on leave; he was working as a spy and trying to sneak through Germany to find the army corps that wanted to surrender.

March 01, 2017, 06:00 PM

Rolan_Kraps

Or was it "Cross of Iron"?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074695/

March 01, 2017, 06:01 PM

RogueJSK

quote:
Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:
Or was it "Cross of Iron"?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074695/

Not at all. It was definitely "Decision Before Dawn".

Good film, though.

March 03, 2017, 01:52 PM

Blackmore

quote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
quote:
Originally posted by Rolan_Kraps:
Or was it "Cross of Iron"?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074695/

Not at all. It was definitely "Decision Before Dawn".

Good film, though.

The 4 leads in Cross of Iron could act circles around any 4 current "actors".